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Ultimate Astros ‘Shocked’ Lucas Harrell
<html>ARLINGTON With the Astros clubhouse emptying out Sunday, Lucas Harrell called a reporter over and said he was ready to talk.
Harrell was demoted to the bullpen before the and initially declined comment Sunday morning when asked about the move.
Postgame, Harrell spent nearly three minutes answering questions about no longer being a starter and his .
Harrell on his reaction to the Astros decision: It was just one of those things where you don t really think it s the best thing but it s just one of those deals where it is what it is. You just kind of have to do it and you just kind of wear it.
How long he ll be in the bullpen: No. I have no clue. (Bo Porter) just told me today,Pinterest practices that are better avoided by man,Blues 55 Janssen Black Jerseys, be ready if you need to go in the game. They haven t really relayed much to me.
Surprised by the move: Yeah, I was shocked. I was really shocked.
Big season for him,Network marketing Marketing and advertising - 5 Wa,New England Patriots Critical Victory D.Blue T-Shirt, still feels like he s an MLB starter: Yeah. I didn t realize this until someone told me today but I m tied with Felix Hernandez for 10 starts with one run or less in all of baseball. I think that s kind of tough to move a guy like that down to the bullpen. But they make the decision so it s their call. I feel like I ve been pretty durable and I ve given a lot. It s just that s why I was completely shocked and caught off guard by it.
Still wants to pitch for Astros: I mean,National Basketball Association which is so far th, yeah. It s one of those things where you ve got a new regime in here. They want their guys and it s coming later in the season; it s getting closer to September. So they re going to try their guys and see what happens.
Did Porter explain what he must accomplish in the bullpen: No. I m just going to the bullpen. We didn t talk about anything else.
Making best of situation: Yeah. I don t even know what role I m going to be used in. So it s just go down to the bullpen. They haven t really said anything to me about any of that stuff today.
Twitter: ChronAstros</html>
Culinary students spend their summer break developing skills
<html>ST. CROIX - While some teenagers are lounging around for the summer, attending summer school or using their time working at a temporary summer job, 13 students have been engrossed in the behind-the-scenes work of the restaurant and food preparation industry. Chef Anton Doos, culinary arts instructor at the St. Croix Career and Technical Education Center, has taken a group of his students on a trip to competitions and events to help to develop their skills in various aspects of the industry and fine tune their interests in the field. Last week,Outsource Joomla SEO Company India, the students were a part of about 6,000 high school and post-secondary school students from around the country who faced off to see who had the best skills, speed, professionalism and expertise in their chosen field. Bartle Hall in Kansas City,Improve Website Traffic by Increasing Your Crawl R, Mo., hosted the 49th annual National SkillsUSA Championships, which began Wednesday. Contestants competed for medals in categories such as crime scene investigation, welding, culinary arts, computer maintenance, commercial banking and customer service. Doos said this is the 12th year that he had attended with students and, as always, he walked away feeling like they had done well. "We won't have any of the results for a while, but our students usually do very well," he said. Compared with students who have almost unlimited resources,Rams 8 Bradford navy Jerseys, such as in the New York City district, the USVI students, who have limited resources available to them,Dell Privatization Bid Gets Major Boost, always put their best foot forward and rise to the top in the competitions,Nike Seahawks 24 lynch Pink Love's Women Jerseys, Doos said. Doos' students competed in the culinary arts, baking and customer service areas, and he said he was pleased with their performances. "Over the years, our students have usually ranked between 15 and 22, out of so many thousands," he said. "Once we had a student in ninth place, and we feel really great doing as well as we have." The competition wrapped up Thursday night, but instead of staying for the closing ceremonies, Doos and his students were on the road in Miami by Friday morning, ready to work as volunteers for the "Taste of the Caribbean" cooking competition at the Hyatt Regency Hotel there. The annual "Taste of the Caribbean" competition and trade show, hosted each year by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, brings about a dozen Caribbean countries together to compete in multiple culinary categories, from bartending to pastry. The Virgin Islands Culinary Team will compete in "Taste of the Caribbean," and the team has been preparing for months in hopes of wowing the judges with their culinary creations. Doos said the students will be doing anything from washing dishes, cleaning up spills or serving as runners between stations at the competition. "They will get to see it all during the competition, and I'm sure they are excited," he said. The Taste of the Caribbean competition wraps up Sunday, and on Monday, Doos said the students will spend some time with Mickey Mouse. "It's certainly not the type of date they would expect, but they will be all around the Disney resort meeting with the chefs at all the park restaurants and warehouse managers to get a feel of how those big food industries run," he said. The students also will visit a few colleges in the area that have renowned hotel and restaurant degree programs before coming back home next week. "Maybe we will be able to squeeze in some fun time at the parks, but on a whole, they are here to see, do and learn," Doos said. - Contact reporter Fiona Stokes at 714-9149 or email fstokes@dailynews.vi.</html>
What’s Rick Perry big announcement going to be- A look
<html>Share this gallery: 1of31
promises to announce this afternoon in San Antonio. So what s the Texas governor going to tell us?
Predicting Rick Perry s future is more risky than wearing burnt orange to an Aggie bonfire.
But that won t deter your bold team at Texas on the Potomac.
After consulting with academics and political consultants from both parties, here are our odds for Perry s potential announcements:
Chooses not to run for re-election as governor,Search Engine Marketing - How Does It Work, says he s contemplating a presidential run (3:2 odds, 40 percent probability)
Most Austin pundits believe Perry, the longest-serving governor in Texas history, won t run for another term. (What more can he accomplish?) But his high-profile embrace of the abortion issue has em thinking he has his eye on the White House.
Announces he will run for a fourth full term as governor (4:1 odds, 20 percent probability)
He s said it many times: Rick Perry loves serving as governor. Some prominent Republicans have seen their political careers wither as they ve waited for Perry to move on (or tried to dislodge him). Running for re-election wouldn t foreclose a future presidential campaign. In fact, it might help Perry with fundraising.
Says he won t run for governor or president (5:1 odds, 16 percent probability)
Y all remember how his 2012 presidential campaign went. And he could face a tough GOP primary for governor in 2014. Perry s not likely to hang up his political spurs today, but you can t count it out.
Chooses not to run for re-election, doesn t comment on a presidential run (7:1 odds,2012-13 Spain Blank Red Jerseys, 12 percent probability)
Perry can play coy. You ve all seen that. He s more likely to say he s thinking about a presidential run. But he might just quote Scarlett O Hara and declare that tomorrow is another day.
Makes an announcement completely unrelated to seeking political office (9:1 odds,Lions 90 Suh white kids Jerseys, 10 percent probability)
The gov does like to confound all of us. Now that he s managed to get the state s (and nation s) attention, he can say anything he wants. It might not have anything to do with running for office.
Chooses not to run for re-election, announces his presidential candidacy (50:1 odds, 2 percent probability)
Why shouldn t Perry be the first Republican to announce his 2016 candidacy? After all, he admitted that he waited way too long in 2011 before announcing. On the other hand, this might be a little bit too early.
Announces his resignation (1000:1 odds, infinitesimal probability)
Who knows? Perry could be offered a lucrative CEO job, the directorship of a major conservative think tank,Search engine optimisation Top 10 Tricks concerni, boss of the Boy Scouts or some other opportunity he just can t turn down. Highly, highly unlikely,Starting up Your Company, but we leave this option open for folks who like to bet on real longshots.</html>
NEW YORK- Twinkies to last longer than many may remember
<html>NEW YORK Twinkies don't last forever, but they'll have more staying power than most people remember when they return to shelves next week. Hostess Brands LLC says the spongy yellow cakes will have a shelf life of 45 days when they start hitting shelves again July 15. That's nearly three weeks longer than the 26 days the previous owner had stated as the shelf life for Twinkies. A spokeswoman for Hostess, Hannah Arnold, says the change to extend the shelf life was actually made by the old company that went bankrupt,Chicago White Sox Nike Women's L.Grey Away Practice T-Shirt, with the longer-lasting cakes first hitting shelves on Nov. 1 of last year. But the old company went out of business and stopped production just weeks after that,SEO Or PPC - That Is The Question, meaning the Twinkies most people are familiar with had the shorter lifespan. Arnold declined to say what changes were made to extend the shelf life,With SEO Arizona, you can be assured cost-effectiv, saying that it is proprietary information. The New York Post also reported last week that Hostess will start freezing some of its cakes to extend their shelf life. That means that Twinkies would be delivered to stores frozen so retailers can stamp their own expiration dates on the cakes. Arnold said in a statement that "a select number of retail customers" representing about 10 percent of its distribution made the request for frozen products. She declined to say which retailers requested the frozen Twinkies. Hostess shuttered its factories this past November,Choosing Baseball Gear that Brings Out the Best in,Michigan Wolverines_1, after years of management turmoil and a failure to reach a contract agreement with its second biggest union. Its brands were sold off in chunks to different buyers; Twinkies and other Hostess cakes were purchased by Apollo Global Management and Metropoulos & Co., which also owns Pabst Brewing Co. As to whether the freezing would affect the taste, Arnold said in a statement that "any suggestion that Hostess is changing the integrity of the iconic snack cakes consumers have loved is completely untrue."</html>
S.C. celebrates heritage of slave descendants through Gullah
<html>CHARLESTON, S.C. - At Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens in Mount Pleasant, S.C., a Charleston suburb, Jackie Mickel stands barefoot in front of an old slave cabin,Retention's Progressive Result on Corporation, her black hair tucked beneath a white turban, perhaps like her great-great-grandmother did when she was enslaved in Dorchester County approximately 25 miles inland.
But Mickel is here by choice, eager to reveal the mysteries of the Gullah or Geechee people, descendants of West African slaves who toiled on Lowcountry rice plantations in South Carolina and Georgia. Because they were isolated on the South Carolina Sea Islands for generations after the Civil War, the Gullah retained much of their culture and language - far more than any other group of African Americans. The Gullah dialect is an English-based Creole language with a strong African influence incomprehensible to most Americans. Therefore, Mickel gives a brief Gullah vocabulary lesson before she tells the story of Brer (Brother) Rabbit, a witty character that often pops up in Gullah folklore to outsmart stronger, more powerful characters, like Brer Wolf and Brer Alligator. When these tales were told by slaves, Caucasian plantations owners were the brunt of the joke, often compared to the character duped by a weaker but wiser one. Mickel is a gifted storyteller, captivating the audience with her animated facial expressions and powerful voice. Her listeners are as spellbound as nursery-school kids as she takes them along on Brer Rabbit's adventures. Boone Plantation dates back to 1681 and has passed through several owners. At the plantation, tour guides in antebellum costumes lead visitors through a Georgian-style mansion that was built in 1936; however, to many, the nine remaining slave cabins beneath towering Spanish moss-draped oak trees are more intriguing than the grand house with its elaborate antique furnishings. Each cabin depicts a different aspect of slave life, from musical and culinary traditions, to the vast knowledge of indigenous herbs used to make medicine and treat wounds. In one cabin, a Gullah woman in a wide-brimmed hat patiently sews sweetgrass baskets, an accessory famous to the area. This centuries-old basket-making tradition flourishes in the Lowcountry, a craft that can be traced all the way to West Africa. These coiled baskets, once made by slaves for agricultural purposes, are now sought after by tourists as souvenirs. Roadside basket stands are scatted on the sides of U.S. Highway 17, a portion of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor that runs along the Southeastern coast from Pender County, N.C., to the southern border of St. Johns County, Fla. There's no shortage of plantation tours in the South, but few offer such an unflinching look at the injustices of slavery, while also celebrating the ingenuity and resourcefulness of those forced to endure it. Gullah Tours go beyond Charleston's antebellum mansions, bustling markets and gleaming monuments. They showcase the African American perspective. Just hop on a bus with Alphonso Brown, owner and operator of Gullah Tours. His passion and knowledge is evident as he points out the wonders of the city that were "built, designed or created by blacks, but for whom credit was never given." Brown was raised by his grandparents in a rural community outside of Charleston, and grew up with their Gullah language and traditions. It was during this time - the 1950s and 1960s - the Gullah were often ostracized as primitive and uneducated because they spoke "broken English," which now can be recognized as a separate language. "In my case,NBA Caps-002, I'm no longer ashamed of my past or those from my past who shaped my future," said Brown. By the 1980s, Brown had embraced his heritage to such an extent that he started a tour company in an effort to share it with others. On the tour, Brown introduces tourists to Cabbage Row, the section of Church Street that inspired the fictional Catfish Row in The Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess," originally an opera and now a revived American Broadway musical. He also drives to the east side of town, which was a crucial link in the Underground Railroad,Nike Giants 22 Wilson Blue Elite Jerseys, a portal to freedom for slaves. Moreover, at a small frame house on Bull Street, Brown explains that the government-recognized National Historic Landmark was the residence of Denmark Vessey, a freed slave who organized a failed slave uprising. Authorities discovered the plot and Vessey was hanged along with more than 30 co-conspirators. A tour highlight is the home and workshop of Phillip Simmons (1912 - 2009), a renowned Charleston blacksmith whose decorative yet wrought iron gates and balconies adorn the city. Unlike many talented black artists and craftsmen in prior generations, Simmon's work was widely recognized. Although they were once marginalized and deprived of their rightful place in Charleston history, today, the Gullah are celebrated for their unique heritage that has helped shape the city. IF YOU GO: WHERE TO STAY: The HarbourView Inn is a boutique hotel on the Charleston Harbor within walking distance of many of the city's top attractions and restaurants. Breakfast is included and guests have a choice of enjoying their meal on the rooftop terrace or having it delivered to their room at no charge. 2 Vendue Range, Charleston,On-line Success - Search Engine Optimization Infor, SC 29401. 1-888-853-8439, www.harbourviewcharleston.com. WHERE TO EAT: The Mustard Seed serves healthy, delicious food that includes seafood and pasta. Chuck Dawley Blvd., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. 1-843-849-0050, www.dinewithsal.com. Open for lunch and dinner. GULLAH CULTURE: Boone Hall Plantation Gardens is one of America's oldest working, living plantations. Live presentations on Gullah culture are offered daily. 1235 Long Point Road, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464. 1-843-884-4371, www.boonehallplantation.com . Admission: $20 adults,Senators should use common sense, not consultants 0, $18 seniors, $10 children aged 6 - 12, Free for children aged 5 and under. Gullah Tours leave from the bus shed at the Charleston Visitor Center. 375 Meeting St., Charleston, SC 29401. 1-843-763-7551, www.gullahtours.com. All seats are $18.</html>
Initial Jobless Claims Rise 16,000 in Week Ended July 6
<html>The weekly report from Washington, D.C. showed that the number of people applying for first-time jobless benefits last week swelled more than expected, reaching its highest level in two months. The Labor Department reported that initial jobless claims – a barometer of the number of layoffs – for the week ended July 6 increased by 16,000 to 360,000 from an upwardly revised 344,000 the week prior. The agency had originally estimated the prior week's claims at 343,000. Economists were quite mixed in expectations, with some pegging the increase and most underestimating it. Consensus predictions were in the area of 344,000 filings. There was nothing unusual in the data and no states estimated claims last week, according to the Labor Department The four-week moving average, closely watched as a gauge of jobless trends because it smoothes weekly volatility, was 351,750, up by 6,000 from the previous week's revised average of 345,750 (revised down from an original 346,Leonard Pitts- Snowden should come home,250). Economists typically regard figures below 350,000 as a sign of moderate growth in the labor markets. It's notable the July is typically a volatile month as auto manufacturers go through shut-downs for maintainence. However, this year is a bit different with Ford Motor Co. (F) trimming its shutdown from two to one week and Chrysler mostly forgoing shutdowns. General Motors Co. (GM) has done a shutdown in four years since filing bankruptcy. For the week ended June 29, continuing claims – those people already collecting benefits,Getting started with Google Adwords, not including those receiving extended benefits under federal programs – rose to 2.977 million from 2.953 million the week prior. Continuing claims are reported with a one-week lag compared to initial claims. The total number of Americans receiving benefits across all programs in the week ended June 22 declined to 4.506 million from 4.558 the prior week. In the comparable week of 2012,Your moneys no good here!,Nike Saints 9 Brees Lights Out Grey Elite Jerseys, total claims equaled 5.874 million. Total claims are delivered at a two-week lag. The biggest increases in initial claims for the week ending June 29 were in New Jersey (+6,Mets 17 Taitis black Jerseys,068), New York (+2,824) and Connecticut (+2,802). The largest decreases were in California (-9,323), Florida (-3,245) and Pennsylvania (-2,628). The markets are on the rise this morning, in part because of dovish commentary from the Federal Reserve on Wednesday that signaled interest rates will be held at ultra-low levels and some disagreements amongst Fed officials about when to taper its massive monetary stimulus package. The worse-than-expected jobs report adds fodder to bulls believing that the Fed will hit the brakes on buying Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities later, rather than sooner. As such, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is up by 136 points in early Thursday action. The S P 500 is up 16 points and the Nasdaq has risen 34 points.</html>
Anchorage- East and Lathrop will put undefeated records on t
<html>Anchorage The East and Lathrop softball teams each kept perfect seasons in tact with two wins apiece Friday, the first day of the large schools softball state tournament at Cartee Fields. East (24-0) and Lathrop (20-0) are the only teams left without a loss in the double-elimination tournament and will face each other Saturday at 9:30 a.m., for a spot in the large school championship game at 1:30 p.m. "An undefeated team from the north and an undefeated team from Anchorage, it should be a good ballgame," East coach Paul Schoenborn said. "Hopefully we'll perform. Should be fun." East,Article Rewriting - Things You Should Know, the defending state champion, performed well enough to notch double-digit run totals in each win Friday. The Thunderbirds knocked off Colony 12-1 in the first round and dropped Juneau 10-7 in the second round. Lathrop's wins were lower scoring. The Malemutes defeated South 5-1 in the first round and took advantage of a West error to escape with a 3-2 win over the Eagles. Backed by strong pitching from Pauline Tufi, West held a 2-0 lead on Lathrop going into the bottom of the sixth inning of a seven-inning game. Lathrop loaded the bases with two outs and Salena Maxwell at the plate. Maxwell grounded a ball back to Tufi, who tossed it to first base for what looked like an inning-ending play. The problem was, the ball bounced out of the first baseman's glove and down the right-field foul line, allowing all three base runners to score. Lathrop led 3-2. West went down in order in the top of the seventh. Lathrop pitcher Kacey Duffield struck out the final batter with Tufi waiting on deck. Tufi was 3 for 3 with a single, double and triple. "The softball gods are on our side, there," Lathrop coach Bill Duffield said. "Pauline's a competitor and we knew she'd be tough to face, but our girls just showed resilience and came through at the end there." Lathrop came up with two hits, one by Ciara Olalde and one from Payge Scanlon-Boswood. Jamie Bingham scored both runs for West, one coming on a solo home run in the fifth inning. For West, which beat West Valley 8-0 in the first round, the loss meant a third game had to be played Friday. The Eagles stayed alive with a 6-4 win against Chugiak in a late losers bracket game. Juneau bounced back to beat West Valley 11-2 in the other late losers bracket game and will face West on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. "I'd rather work from this position than from the position of beating (Lathrop), because I know we are gonna have to face them again," said Tufi. "I want to face them when they have all to lose and we don't have anything to lose." For East and Lathrop,The Best SEO Services Is Doing Things Yourself, winning comes with the added advantage of only having to play two games Friday and needing just two more wins for a state title. Teams that fell to the losers bracket played three to stay alive Friday and will need four straight wins Saturday to claim a title. "We need to go home and rest up for Lathrop," said East's Taria Page. "We can't just lay down for them. We have to work hard and bring our best defense." East's defense was helpless on a few occasions against Juneau,Many Useful Details Regarding Getting High SEO Ran, which got home runs from Randi Held,NHL Caps-005, Malin Murray, Gracie Meiners and Savanna Schauwechker. "They're a good team and we knew had to work hard," Page said. "They step up their game every time they come to state." The Thunderbirds' offense beat Juneau to the punch,Nike Chiefs 25 Charles Red Limited Jerseys, however, extending a 4-2 lead to 9-2 with a five-run rally in the bottom of the fourth inning. Leilani Blair, Gabby Meyerson and Morgan Hill each finished with two hits for East, with Blair and Meyerson each scoring twice. Ketchikan, Sitka pace small schools Ketchikan and Sitka each experienced massive victory margins Friday in the small schools softball state tournament at Cartee Fields, each winning twice to advance to Saturday's winners-bracket semifinal. Ketchikan started its day with a 24-0 first-round blowout of Hutchison and then took out Homer 6-4 in the second round. Sitka stormed by Kodiak 13-5 in the first round before rolling by Eielson 16-1 in the second round of the double-elimination tournament. Ketchikan and Sitka face off at 9 a.m., the winner moving in to the small schools championship game at 1 p.m., and the loser will face the winner of a losers bracket game between Eielson and Homer.
Reach Jeremy Peters at or 257-4335.</html>
Ultimate Astros First pitch- Lyles on mound as Astro
<html>ST. LOUIS The Astros are going backward heading into the All-Star break.
Bo Porter s team has lost four of five games and is just 4-12 during its last 16 contests, prior to a 7:15 p.m. CT matchup against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Wednesday s game is the Astros final road interleague contest this season.
Astros righthander Jordan Lyles (4-3, 3.87 ERA) is set to face Cardinals righty Shelby Miller (9-6, 2.80).
Lyles, 22, has posted a 2.83 ERA during his last 10 starts. Two rough outings in late June were followed by an improved start last Thursday against Tampa Bay, when he allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings.
, taking an eight-run lead into the ninth inning.
Astros (32-58): Elmore SS,Here's how to get Additional Site visitors Easily,Heat 1 BOSH Red Womens Jerseys, Altuve 2B, Castro C,Domain Flipping-How to Make a Profit, Carter LF, Wallace 1B, Martinez RF, Barnes CF, Dominguez 3B, Lyles P.
Cardinals (54-34): Carpenter 2B,Make sure kids do count in the V.I., Jay CF, Holliday LF, Craig RF, Adams 1B,2011-2012 Club Liverpool black Jerseys, Freese 3B, Descalso SS, Cruz C, Miller P.
Twitter: ChronAstros</html>
Will you visit the new fenced dog park-
<html>Anchorage's first fenced dog park is from becoming a reality, so I thought a discussion on dog parks would be appropriate.
What do you think of dog parks in general and the park in specific? Will you use the new park? Do you have any trepidations?
Some of the most knowledgeable dog people I know want nothing to do with dog parks. When I ask why, they usually say that dog parks are a crap shoot -- you never know who you're going to run into. There are often pushy or aggressive dogs and clueless owners who allow the behavior,[http://www.jerseys-hearts.com/NHL-Montr��al-Canadiens-Big-&-Tall-Women-s-Logo-White-T-Shirt-28487/ NHL Montr��al Canadiens Big & Tall Women's Logo White T-Shirt], and my friends don't want to take the chance of their dogs being injured or placed in a situation where they have to defend themselves against unwanted advances.
I can understand their point of view. But having frequented make-shift fenced dog parks for the past 6-7 years with dogs of different sizes and temperaments,Hilary Clinton’s favorite pantsuit designer honored at, I personally think the benefits can outweigh the risks. The most important way to make this happen, though, is to have educated dog owners who understand what's really going on when dogs interact.
If Arctic Benson is going to be a success, it's going to depend on dog owners raising their game and learning about dog interactions.
I consider this to be required reading for anyone who takes their dogs out in public. It's long and detailed, but it sheds light on why dogs react the way they do and points out that the dogs many people think are rude and aggressive for snarling and snapping are actually the ones who are best socialized and just reacting to ill-mannered interlopers.
If you're going to visit Arctic Benson,The Week in Review- Supreme Court rulings, immigration and e, read the article. I'd be interested in your thoughts,Celtics 34 The Truth Black Jerseys,Keyword Research Is A Vital SEO Tool For Yorkshire, pro or con.</html>
Ultimate Rockets It’s H 1
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The Rockets on Friday finally hooked the biggest fish in the NBA’s free-agent pond.
The challenge remained pulling him in, but after several agonizing hours, Dwight Howard was headed to Houston.
“I’ve decided to become a member of the Houston Rockets,” Howard announced via Twitter. “I feel its (sic) the best place for me and I am excited about joining the Rockets and I’m looking forward to a great season. I want to thank the fans in Los Angeles and wish them the best.”
Howard chose the Rockets after five days of meetings and deliberations ― and a few hours of uncertainty ― before the Lakers ended the drama with the announcement. He did not meet with the Lakers again Friday, but did inform them of his decision even before his call to Rockets general manager Daryl Morey.
“I gave out a little woop,” Morey said of hearing the news. “A little non-presidential yell.
“I doubted it. Until things are done, my job is to steward the Rockets franchise. I’m very excited.”
Howard cannot officially sign until July 10 when the NBA moratorium on new deals is lifted. But with Friday’s decision, they had pulled a coup two years in the making, beginning with a dramatic restructuring of the roster to enable them to have the cap room needed and culminating in the week’s strong recruiting presentation in Los Angeles.
The Rockets went into the month as the apparent front-runner in the Howard sweepstakes, then solidified their position with the recruiting pitches from Chandler Parsons and James Harden and the championship-era tandem of Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Along with the Skype presentation from Yao Ming, the Rockets emphasized that Howard would be welcomed to the Rockets’ line of dominant big men from Elvin Hayes to Moses Malone, Ralph Sampson, Olajuwon and Yao, in contrast to the burdens of expectation in Los Angeles.
Chemistry part of pitch
Howard, 27, had often listed his free-agency priorities as to be a part of a championship-caliber team and to be happy. Howard, 6-11, had seemed convinced, according to a person with knowledge of the process, by the combination of a partnership with Harden, Parsons’ strong case about the chemistry and camaraderie on the team in contrast to his one unhappy season with the Lakers, and the chance to work with Rockets coach Kevin McHale, a Hall of Fame low-post player.
The addition of Howard will lead to a significant change of style. The Rockets, the NBA’s second-highest scoring team last season,What is an MLM Binary Program, averaged just 3.5 points in the low post, the least in the NBA and made the second-most 3-pointers in NBA history. McHale had long wanted to add a presence in the paint and has especially enjoyed working with young players on their low-post game since his days as the Timberwolves general manager.
Howard also is scheduled to work with Olajuwon this summer, his third training at Olajuwon’s annual offseason big-man camp.
The Rockets still had work to do, and did not wait for Howard’s decision to begin. Morey, however, said he will be cautious about his next move.
“I think with this,Vikings 67 Kali Grey Jerseysl, we move into one of the top teams in the West,” Morey said. “Miami, the Spurs, Oklahoma City, teams have earned more than us,Free Article Directory as an Article Promotional T, we have to try to get ahead of those teams. Teams mistake at times like this when they make rash moves, rather than well thought-out moves. My concern is our playoff team coming in has chance to beat every other team in the playoffs; it’s not on having the best team in the league July 6.”
They cut into their depth to create the cap room they’ll need to sign Howard,[1], particularly with the long-planned release of Carlos Delfino, who filled in through much of the season at power forward. They still face a void at power forward, having dealt Patrick Patterson to get Thomas Robinson, a prospect they considered easier to deal.
With that uncertainty, the Rockets had eyed a sign-and-trade deal with the Atlanta Hawks to bring in Josh Smith, Howard’s AAU teammate in Atlanta. The Rockets, however, never gained any traction on a sign-and-trade deal with Atlanta or a free-agent agreement with Smith.
The Rockets have long had interest in New Orleans forward Ryan Anderson and the Pelicans could seek a true center to enable them to play Anthony Davis at forward, but there have been few talks about a deal that would send Omer Asik to New Orleans.
Process of elimination
The Rockets are also expected to pursue help on the perimeter using a mid-level salary-cap exception and veteran’s minimum contracts, and are expected to resume talks with Delfino and Francisco Garcia, though both could attract richer offers elsewhere.
Other than the moves to clear cap room, the Rockets were unlikely to complete deals to fill out the roster until landing Howard. That was uncertain until late in the evening on Friday.
His other suitors had been eliminated through the day. The Hawks and Mavericks had been told they were not under consideration. The Warriors had made moves needed to open cap room then used to land Andre Iguodala, taking them out of the mix unless in a sign-and-trade with the Lakers. The Warriors were subsequently told they were out of the running.
That left the Rockets and Lakers. While Howard had decided to sign with the Rockets, according to an individual familiar with his thinking, Morey was not willing to believe he had landed him until he heard it from Howard. When he did, he gave a shout,Dallas Cowboys White Women's Logo T-Shirt, and sent a Tweet.
“Welcome to Houston @DwightHoward!!! Years of work by Dwight Rockets went into this. This team is going to be special.”</html>
Top Ten- Abigail Fisher declares victory after Supreme Court
<html>Every week Texas on the Potomac gives you a second glimpse of our most popular stories from last week. Here are the most viewed stories from June 23- June 29.
1. UPDATED: Abigail Fisher says she’s confident UT ‘won’t be able to use race in the future’ After the Supreme Court ruled on the affirmative action case, the plaintiff stated that nation is closer to a day when race isn’t a deciding factor in admissions.
2. Supreme Court sidesteps affirmative action decision in Texas ruling,Mariners 51 Ichiro Red 2011 All Star Jerseys,Ultimate Astros » Appel shakes off rough start to pro career_1, tells appeals court to re-hear the case (UPDATED) The Fisher case will now wind its way back through the federal judiciary and may return to the Supreme Court in 2014 or 2015.
3. Historic immigration legislation passes Senate by wide margin The Senate passed the bipartisan package for comprehensive immigration reform after weeks of debate.
4. Complete text of Supreme Court decisions in Fisher v. University of Texas The Supreme Court ruling on the affirmative action case is announced with Justice Kennedy writing for the majority and Justice Ginsberg writing the dissenting opinion.
5. Supreme Court knocks out part of Voting Rights Act; Voter ID now the law in Texas, AG says The formula to determine whether a jurisdiction must get federal approval for its voting laws was considered outdated by Supreme Court justices.
6. Texas state representative will renew push to legalize same-sex marriage While the state representative from Forth Worth admits that the bills chances are pretty slim,The beer can makes a comeback, he hopes to encourage same-sex marriage supporters.
7. Sheila Jackson Lee introduces bill to require public disclosure of all FISA requests If enacted,Why it is important to take help of affordable SEO,Nike 49ers 24 Gore Camo Elite Jerseys, the bill would require the Attorney General to make decisions known to the public in an attempt to keep America informed about efforts to thwart possible terrorist attacks.</html>
Ultimate Astros Extra inning- Astros’ Norris f
<html>ST. LOUIS Tuesday was an important start for Bud Norris because of multiple reasons.
It didn t go well.
Norris then declined to answer follow-up questions after speaking postgame with the media for a little more than a minute.
The Astros No. 1 starter allowed? 11 hits and seven runs in five innings,Useful Search Engine Optimisation Tips, falling to 6-8 while his ERA hit 3.63. The seven runs tied Norris season-high (May 13 at Detroit) and set a career high against the Cardinals. He also tweaked his left ankle while making a second-inning pitch to Matt Carpenter during at Busch Stadium.
The righthander said his ankle was taped during the game. Asked if it could force him to miss his next start which is to be determined; he isn t scheduled to pitch before the All-Star break Norris said, “I don’t know right now.”
Twenty-two days remain before the July 31 trade deadline. Norris has been the Astros best overall pitcher this season and general manager Jeff Luhnow backed up the club s No. 1 starter . Major questions remain about Norris future with the Astros, though, and Tuesday s start was his most discouraging outing of the season.
“There was a lot going on (Tuesday), Norris said.
Harrell s new role
Former Astros No. 2 starter Lucas Harrell made his 2013 debut as a reliever, taking over for Norris in the sixth inning and allowing four hits,How effective search engine optimization increases your brand exposure, two runs and two walks in three frames.
Harrell said he was initially unsure how many pitches he needed to throw while warming up and relied on his teammates for assistance.
It was something new. I kind of warmed up like I was starting a little bit,B2B Marketing Consulting Whats in it for You, because I had a little bit of time, he said. It was good. It was a good experience. I just didn t execute (Tuesday).
He added: I ve got to pitch better or I m not going to be here. It s just the name of the game.
Springer in September?
Pregame, Luhnow said the organization won t determine for a while whether top prospect George Springer receives a September callup to the majors.
Then Springer was Springer. The 23-year-old center fielder went 4-for-5 with two home runs, a triple and five RBIs during Class AAA Oklahoma City s 11-8 road loss to Round Rock on Tuesday.
Luhnow on Springer’s future and a possible September promotion to Astros: No option is being ruled off the table. But the original plan was half the year in Corpus Christi and half the year in Oklahoma City. And that’s essentially what happened. We got him through the All-Star break in the Texas League and he will spend the last two months in Oklahoma City,New York Rangers 30 LUNDQVIST dark blue 85th Jerseys, and then we’ll have to make a decision after that time.
September, there are a lot of players who are in Triple-A right now who have already been to the big leagues and we need to bring some of them back, and we’re going to need to learn about some other players. It depends on what our objectives are in September … and we’ll know more about that as we get closer.
Misc.
Shortstop Ronny Cedeno left the game with a contusion on his left big toe. I think he s fine, Astros manager Bo Porter said. Those guys that wear the pads,Flyers 13 Carcillo Orange 2010 Stanley Cup Jerseys, I always say this: The ball hits everywhere except the pad. Chris Carter (hand) pinch-hit in the ninth inning. Porter said he performed well during batting practice and should be able to play a full game Wednesday.
Twitter: ChronAstros</html>
What is "BRF" and How Is It Impacting Your Profess
<html>In the months following when Taylor Orci’s video “bitchy resting face” was uploaded to the YouTube channel Funny or Die, many American women became very concerned and self-diagnosing themselves with this fabricated disorder. The original video,Youth Nike Chargers RIVERS 17 white Jerseys, which was written to poke fun at all the recent medical condition PSA commercials caught on like wildfire. With around 2,Serve Your Message on a Platter of Personalization,700,000 views, more and more people are beginning to concern themselves with the impact that their facial expressions have on their interactions with others. This becomes a particular concern when interacting in the workplace. Dr. Anthony Youn, a Michigan based Plastic Surgeon was interviewed about this new phenomenon by where he stated that there is a legitimate medical condition where some people inherently have resting facial expressions that cause them to come off as unpleasant. This condition is demonstrated in people whose mouths are slightly downturned and or their eyebrows have deep vertical lines giving off the appearance of grumpiness. In the past year alone,Getting Baseball Gear That's Right For You, Dr. Youn stated that he alone has done over 100 expression surgeries in order to reverse the effects of “bitchy resting face”. Theses surgeries range from grin lifts, filler procedures to turn up the corners of a persons mouth,California prison officials say 30,000 inmates refuse meals,Redskins 47 Cooley black field shadow Jerseys, to 1,5000 eyebrow injections of Botox. Though most of the problems of “bitchy resting face” come from strangers who take the angry expression as an act of aggression during mundane daily activities, it can be quite a problem when communicating in the workplace. It is said the more then half of communication that people make while interacting is based off their body language and facial expressions. It’s the first like of understanding to the person that an individual is trying to communicate with. That being said its understood that people who smile and have a more open softer demeanor are more accepted and listen to then those who come across as closed off and grumpy. This then poses a problem for those who have a resting face that gives off the wrong impression when interacting in business. It’s a step back that has to be compensated for because the initial reaction is much harsher. Those who suffer from “bitchy resting face” need to overcome the initial reaction that fellow coworkers and clients have to generate the setting that those who are innately softer generate off the bat.
[Image via Youtube]</html>
Federal omnibus bill addresses territories
<html>ST. THOMAS -- The U.S. Senate has taken up an omnibus bill that mirrors the legislative agenda of a house resolution proposed by the Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress Donna Christensen. The omnibus bill is the second of its kind introduced within the last 10 years, Christensen said, and it seek to address a number of issues the small territories face. On Thursday, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who is chairman of the Senate's Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, introduced S. 1237 - "A bill to improve the administration of programs in the insular areas" - as companion legislation to H.R. 2200. The omnibus bills include measures pertaining to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands. Most of the measures pertaining to the Virgin Islands in S. 1237 are identical to the measures in H.R. 2200. "I am very pleased that Senator Wyden has introduced our concerns on the Senate side," Christensen said in a statement she issued Friday. "It reiterates the needs of the small off-shore territories. It's good to have legislation on both sides, as a lot of time what passes in the House does not pass in the Senate and vice-versa." The bill would expand funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program - LIHEAP - and call for a referendum on creating a chief financial officer position for the Virgin Islands. It also would extend assistance from the Department of the Interior in examining the territory's energy needs and reduce the amount of funds the local government has to match when receiving federal grants. H.R. 2200,Wwhich ithey wouldbe working asurs; Hot big t biloent element elemudeborahw, the Omnibus Territories Act, was introduced in May by Delegate Gregorio Sablan of the Northern Marianas Islands and co-sponsored by Christensen, Delegate Eni Faleomaevega of American Samoa and Delegate Madeline Bordallo of Guam. The delegates representing the U.S. territories do not get a vote on the House floor, although they can introduce legislation and they can vote in committee. Christensen made at least one of the measures,Emphasize your Digital Identity with Paid Accounts, the proposal to have a referendum on the creation of a chief financial officer position, a separate bill, but the bill did not pass the House. Christensen will testify at a Senate hearing on S. 1237 July 11. LIHEAP Both omnibus bills call for lowering the income threshold from 150 percent of poverty level to 300 percent for households in the Virgin Islands. Also, the House resolution would require the Secretary of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department to allocate the full amount of funding for LIHEAP assistance allowable under current statutes. Currently, the Health and Human Services Department can expend up to 0.5 percent of the total federal LIHEAP budget on the territories. Christensen said that the department has never allocated more than 0.13 percent of its LIHEAP funds to the territories since the program's creation. These two provision together, if passed, will mean that the territories have a greater amount of money to assist a greater pool of applicants, according to Christensen. The federal government has cut back funding for LIHEAP during the last three years, Christensen said. However,Nike 49ers 22 Rodgers White Elite 2013 Super Bowl XLVII Jersey, given that the territories have never been given the full amount they are legislatively entitled to, Christensen said she does not think there will be much opposition to the measures. Energy needs The Senate bill echoes the House Resolution in that it calls for extending the work of a task force of experts who have been advising the governments of the Virgins Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the Mariana Islands about electricity generation since 2003, Christensen said. The task force, called Energy Development in Island Nations is supposed to craft plans to reduce island nations' dependence on fuel oil for energy production, a reliance that has caused electricity rates in the territories to skyrocket above the rates for mainland states. Chief financial officer The Senate bill calls for a referendum to be conducted during the next General Election in the Virgin Islands, so the voters can decide whether they want another government position created to oversee the territory's budget. The idea behind the position, which Christensen has been advocating for 10 years,In order to choose the best SEO services, is to create an autonomous, independent overseer to ensure fiscal transparency, Christensen said. After facing opposition from Gov. John deJongh Jr. about the idea, and after failed attempts to create the position legislatively through the Congress, Christensen said she has offered the referendum as a compromise. "This way we can let the people of the Virgin Islands decide what they want," she said. If enacted by referendum, a broad committee drawn from various government departments would select three candidates to be named chief financial officer. The governor would select a candidate from the three, and the Senate would have to ratify the appointment, which would be for five years. Grant matching The Senate bill reiterates the House Resolution in that it calls for waiving the matching requirement of territorial governments for federal grants less than $500,000. Currently,Nike Panthers 28 Stewart white Elite Jersey, the governments do not have to match funds for grants less than $200,000. Christensen said that she did not know how many federal grants the Virgin Islands received for less than the proposed $500,000 threshold but that given the government's fiscal challenges, moving the threshold certainly would be a boon. St. Croix As in the House Resolution, the Senate bill would establish Castle Nugent Historic Site and the entire island of St. Croix as a National Heritage Area. Christensen said the goal is to make the island and the site eligible for federal funding of up to $1 million per year earmarked for cultural and historic preservation. Christensen also has introduced a separate bill in the House proposing the designation of St. Croix as a National Heritage Area. That bill still is pending. The designation would boost the marketability of St. Croix as a culturally significant destination, Christensen said. "We have already decided as an island that we want to focus on cultural tourism, and this is a great way to help some of the non-profits on the island devoted to that," she said. - Contact Amanda Norris at 714-9104 or email anorris@dailynews.vi.</html>
Ultimate Astros Astros’ slumping bats seal loss to
<html>ARLINGTON — While Lucas Harrell was getting hammered, the Astros couldn’t even make a dent.
Players that spent pregame interviews acknowledging their 1-9 lineup had been off target the last two weeks — overswinging, hitting as individuals instead of as a team, giving into pressure — showed no improvement once Rangers rookie righthander Nick Tepesch began firing fastballs, curves and sinkers that left the Astros empty and off-balance until they were trailing by eight runs Friday night at Rangers Ballpark.
Astros 4-6 hitters Carlos Pena,Nike 49ers 16 Montana Pink Women Elite Skirts, J.D. Martinez and Brandon Barnes struck out swinging in the second inning. Brett Wallace,Report- Dwight Howard buys lunch for patrons at Houston rest, Chris Carter and Pena were erased in the fourth. By the time Harrell had been banished and the Rangers had recorded an easy 10-5 victory during an American League matchup, the Astros were closer to their early April offensive futility than they’ve been all season.
Primary cause of skid
During their recent 13-game slide, a club that’s gone just 3-10 since June 21 has been outscored 94-39 and scored three runs or fewer seven times.
“We tend to fall off with the quality of our at-bats,” said Pena,Thunders 35 Durant Blue Jerseys, who’s hitting just .217 with a .695 on-base plus slugging percentage. “That’s the thing where now we have to check ourselves and say, ‘No, we’ve got to get back to those quality at-bats over and over again. One after the other, one through nine.’?”
It’s the selective-aggressive attack hitting coach John Mallee preaches and the organization’s front office — which emphasizes on-base percentage and walks — dictates. But it was rarely evident Friday and has been missing the last two weeks.
The Astros walked on to the field ranked first in Major League Baseball in strikeouts (798) and 29th out of 30 teams in batting average (.234), on-base percentage (.293) and slugging percentage (.376). Seven of the Astros’ starters were hitting .253 or less, five were at .231 or below and Jose Altuve (.288) was the only batter above .269.
While manager Bo Porter regularly pokes holes in the baseball world’s outdated emphasis on batting average, not having hitters who can regularly hit has been at the core of an Astros slide that’s bridged mid-June with early July and positioned the team with baseball’s worst record for its third consecutive 100-loss season.
Lineup in limbo
The rebuilding Astros are holding real-time major league tryouts. As a result,Taking A Close Look At The Components Of Social Me, a lineup that had been altered 73 times in 86 games often lacks consistency and rhythm.
“We’re letting ‘em play,’ bench coach Eduardo Perez said. “Yeah, we’ve gone through a rough stretch. But at the same time, guys have to go out there and show us what they have. Bo’s done a great job of mixing and matching and giving the guys an opportunity to show what they have, and it’s our job to get them ready for it.”
Quick, uneven at-bats are plaguing the team, players said. Jason Castro, Carter and Pena have the ability to draw walks or extend plate appearances, but third baseman Matt Dominguez was hitting just .224 with an OBP of .253.
The majority of Astros hitters are strikeout liabilities — they racked up 10 on Friday. And a club 25 games below .500 ranks last in MLB in batting average with runners in scoring position (.223).
More of the same
The flailing continued Friday. Altuve led off with a single,Ultimate Astros Astros offer no apologies for aggres, but the Astros didn’t record another hit until the fourth when Castro lined his 23rd double of the season to left-center field. Then he was stranded after Carter and Pena struck out.
“It’s such a paradox. How can you be patient and aggressive? But you can,” said Pena, who had drawn 808 walks in 13 seasons and was signed partly because of his above-average OBP. “We have to learn it. But it takes time, patience and dedication. You can’t just go up and swing. You have to learn how to hit.”</html>
Indonesian men trapped in tree by tiger for five days rescue
<html>Sumatran tigers are extremely rare. Only 350 remain in the wild. (Photo credit: Brimack / Flickr)
Men marooned in a tree by a group of bloodthirsty Sumatran tigers since Thursday .
Six Indonesian men ventured into the jungle last week to collect a rare incense wood. They set up deer traps for food,These new techniques in SEO started giving quick b, but accidentally caught a Sumatran tiger cub, . The wounded baby animal alerted nearby adult tigers, who pounced on and killed one of the group, a 28-year-old named David.
The remaining men scrambled up some branches, where they called villagers on their cell phones. A 30-person rescue crew entered the 3,The Process of the Search Engine Optimization,Youth Nike Eagles 18 Maclin Green Portrait Fashion Game Jersey,060-square-mile national forest on Saturday, on foot, and didn’t expect to find the stranded incense-gatherers until Wednesday.
But rescuers arrive today and, with help from tamers,Primary advantages of Fb Marketing, drove the snarling tigers away and helped the men down, ending their five-day ordeal.
“People keep entering the jungle to look for the wood because it’s very expensive,” Police Chief Dicky Sondani tells BBC. “But that’s the risk: There are many tigers and elephants in Gunung Leuser jungle.”
Sumatran tigers are the smallest of their kind and critically endangered. They’re found only on that island. Researchers count only 350 left in the wild and another 361 in zoos all over the world, , a nonprofit dedicated to their preservation.
These tigers often prey on deer,Los Angeles Kings Men Customized Black Classic Vintage Jersey, but the larger the prey, the better. The 250-pound feline predators can slay animals weighing up to a ton, says Tiger Trust.
Find Jennifer Wadsworth on Twitter at .</html>
STAVANGER, Norway- Norway mulls broadband coverage in Arctic
<html>STAVANGER, Norway Norway may provide high-speed Internet in one of the few places on Earth where it's not available: the Arctic. The Norwegian Space Center has teamed up with Telenor Satellite Broadcasting to assess the feasibility of a new satellite system covering northern areas outside the reach of current geostationary communications satellites. Space center director Bo Andersen on Thursday told The Associated Press the system could be in place in the early 2020s if it gets the necessary funding from private and public sources. The estimated cost is 2 billion-4 billion kroner ($330 million-$650 million). Demand for high-speed Internet in the Arctic is expected to grow as shipping,Ultimate Astros First pitch- Bedard takes ball as As, fishing and oil companies move north amid warming temperatures and melting ice. Last year,Promote Your Business Effectively With Article Sub, summer sea ice cover in the Arctic fell to the lowest extent on record. Geostationary satellites, which are in orbit over the equator,Blue Jays blank white Jerseys, provide coverage up to 75 degrees north, Andersen said. But above that latitude, the signals become too weak, and the only option is another satellite network that can only handle voice and limited data service. "We see very clearly that there is an increasing need for broadband in the high Arctic," Andersen said. Ola Anders Skauby,Blackhawks 82 kopecky black 3rd winter classic Jerseys,My Favorite Sporting Events - Baseball, NFL Draft,, a spokesman for Norwegian energy company Statoil, said "new satellite solutions would be beneficial" as the offshore industry moves north in search of oil and gas. "Our plans for the Arctic depend on a number of issues: safe operations, logistics, weather conditions and more," he said. "Broadband coverage is part of this picture and for operations in some regions further north than where current operations are taking place development of new solutions for high-capacity broadband ... will be needed." Canada's space agency has been studying a similar system. Spokeswoman Melanie Beauchesne said the agency has completed feasibility studies but is still talking with potential public and private partners in Canada and abroad "to determine their level of interest and potential collaboration scenario to bring about the future realization of this mission."
Associated Press writer Karl Ritter in Stockholm contributed to this report.</html>